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Wednesday, September 28, 2016

After composing the score for four Transformers films, there was little doubt that Steve Jablonsky was asked to return for Transformers: The Last Knight. Now have official confirmation via a tweet from the composer where he wrote "Shhhh.....secret folder. More later...." with screenshot of a folder labeled "TF5 Theme Ideas".

Monday, September 26, 2016

It seems Transformers: The Last Knight is finished filming their Nazi scenes as production moved to the "driveway" of Buckingham Palace as the Lamborgini shot down it at 90MPH. Filming also includes shots of 'Bee at the Palace and possibly Barricade chasing him. More pictures from the set can be found here.

In addition Sir Anthony Hopkins answer the question "what is it like working on Transformers?" in a Facebook video.

"To date, it has been one of the best experiences I've had on a film in many, many years. Since Spielberg and Olive Stone... Working with Michael Bay is quite an experience because he has the whole film up there [point at his head]. Makes life for me anyway easy. He says stand there, I stand there. I just go along with it because I know he is in command of the whole ship. Directors are certain like Steven Spielberg, Oliver Stone, Kenneth Branagh, Michael Bay... they are the best. There's no political correctness. They don't take time. They just 'Let's do it.' I love that. Because I'm like that. I don't like wasting time either. ...to all you Transformers fans, all you kids. Enjoy. I'll be back. Mark my words."

Friday, September 23, 2016

In a live Facebook post early this morning, Mark Wahlberg spoke about his movie Deepwater Horizon that was released today. From that he received fan questions. One of the questions let to the below response:

I will be in Transformers 5. We are shooting in London. I am actually in New York City. I am doing some press for Deep Water Horizon. Then I am flying back to London to finish up the last couple weeks on Transformers 5. Its a cool new story. Its kind of like a man on the run. Sir Anthony Hopkins is also in the film. Got a cool new cast. And cool new robots. Cool new villains. And some cool new Dinobots. You guys are really gonna go crazy for the mini-Dinobots.

So there you go - mini-dinobots. From a budget perspective that should save a lot of money since giant rampaging Dinobots was probably very expensive to film in Age of Extinction. Have to see how they are executed on film before can decide if embrace the idea or not.

It seems we finally learned a new nugget of information regarding Transformers: The Last Knight. A few scenes will be set in World War II, specifically at the "headquarters of Adolf Hitler". Which will be filmed at Winston Churchill's home of Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire. Knowing that Churchill's home will be dressed with "enormous swastika flags, a variety of German military equipment and SS stormtroopers filling the forecourt" is something that some UK residents are not happy with. “I know it’s a film,” Col Richard Kemp, the former commander of British forces in Afghanistan, told the Sun. “But it’s symbolically disrespectful to Churchill. He will be turning in his grave.” The home is owned by a distant relative of Winston Churchill so his approval is all TF5 production needs.

Michael Bay defended the filming decision saying "People have not been fortunate enough to read the script and they don't know that Churchill in this movie is a big hero. Churchill would be smiling. When you see the movie you'll understand."

This is the same location that Anthony Hopkins and Freya the dog were shown filming at. It seems to me that a portion of the film is about Wahlberg's character looking for an Arthurian artifact (Excalibur?) and he goes to Anthony Hopkins character for information to find it. With a few lines he then sets up a flashback sequence that will probably explain more about the McGuffin. Or Hopkins doesn't actually share a scene with Walhberg but just the location.

Is Hopkins playing Winston Churchill? Churchill was often referenced as a bulldog but actually owned a poodle, but I could see Bay purposely mixing his metaphors by using Freya. While Hopkins has been seen at least twice on TF5 locations set in "modern" times, the locations could easily be adjusted to be set in the 1940s. Has he actually shared scenes with actors (Walhberg, Tucci, etc.) set in present time or is he on set doing scenes in the past while the rest of the cast use the same location to "follow" in his footsteps?

Thursday, September 22, 2016

While the movie is still in production, that has not stopped a brief featurette from being posted about Freya the Dog. Freya is a dog in the UK that as labeled the "world's loneliest dog" due to spending six years in various animal shelters as unable to find a home for some reason (hat tip to the shelters for not euthanizing her, your donations at work). It looks like her and Sir Anthony Hopkins got on well enough. Thanks to Feris O. for the link.

IDW Publishing has released their publishing plans for December 2016. Four floppies and two trades for that month. Now that the re-introduction of the Hasbro Cinematic Universe via Revolution has ended, Revolutionaries keeps the ball rolling as the lesser known characters mix it up with Transformers characters. Transformers: Lost Light continues the adventures of the Lost Light crew for their not really quest for the Knights of Cybertron. Till All Are One follows events on Cybertron as dead Titans (shorthand for Metroplex/Fortress Maximus scale Transformers) are causing havoc while Optimus continues to navigate problems on Earth. For the full details of IDW's other books including GI Joe, Ghostbusters, Star Trek, and more click here.

Tuesday, September 20, 2016

The season (series?) finale of Transformers: Combiner Wars is now available as Metroplex enters the fight against Starscream. If in the United States you can find it at Go90.com. Below is the YouTube embed but its region locked so YMMV.

Friday, September 16, 2016

While there is little real news on the Transformers: The Last Knight front since Bay has successfully lowered an Abrams-like cone of silence on his production, we can at least confirm that Sir Anthony Hopkins does have a human role in the film and apparently it comes in the back half of the film is the much worse for wear look of Mark Wahlberg is any indication.

The pictures were shot at the castle grounds of Alnwick Castle in Northumbria, UK which included some of the usual Bayhem explosions filmed in part with a drone. Based on Hopkins' costume, I am betting he is playing someone who is an expert on Arthurian legend, sucked into helping Walhberg and company track down the film's McGuffin. The full gallery of the two hanging out on set can be found here. Thanks to Wynton Ray for the link.

A friendly reminder that Transformers: The Movie 30th Anniversary Blu-ray is now out. Not sure how widely available it will be so check your local retailer's websites first just to verify or order from Amazon: Standard | Limited Edition

The movie comes on two discs, both with the 4k restoration. One is the full screen version, helpful if want to relive watching it old school via TV re-runs and VHS or you can watch it widescreen like it appeared in theaters or on DVD. Besides the 4k restoration, there are three new featurettes. The main one is the "Til All Are One: Looking Back at Transformers: The Movie" with interviews with some still living members of the voice cast as they discuss making the movie along with talking about the soundtrack with Stan Bush and Vince Dicola. The others is "Transformers: The Restoration" which provides an overview of the 4k restoration and "Rolling Out The New Cover" with Blu-ray cover and long time IDW Transformers artist Livio Ramondelli. From the 20th Anniversary DVD release they carried over special features include three featuettes (The Death of Optimus Prime, Cast & Characters, and Transformers Q&A), commentary track with story consultant Flint Dille, Susan Blu (Arcee) and movie director Nelson Shin, storyboards, trailers and TV spots.

The next episode of Transformers: Combiner Wars is now up. In Darkest Hour, Starscream's entry to godhood goes about as well as you would expect. One more episode to go and possibly the last one. Verizon's Go90 site is being called a "huge dud". Since their exclusivity for the series in the US probably paid for a good chunk of the production of Combiner Wars, this kind of news does not bode well for a future season.

If in the United States the episode can be found at Go90.com. For international viewers, see below.

Monday, September 12, 2016

From the Instagram account of Arun Dhingra, we have a look at various TF5 vehicles as filming continues from the Transformers: The Last Knight set in London. Usually expensive and sporty cars means Transformers alt mode but at this time that has not been confirmed.

The real new addition is a red McLaren 570S that looks like the expensive type that makes for an alt mode or Anthony Hopkins character could just own it since he was spotted doing a scene in the vehicle. We also have another good look at the silver Aston Martin DB11 that is theorized to be the alt mode of the rumored character of Cogman. Another Cogman possibility could be the black Citroen DS that is used by Laura Haddock's character. The view the full gallery from the London set including more looks at Barricade, Bumblebee, and Hot Rod characters head over to @arun09345.

Friday, September 09, 2016

Below is a new clip via AV Club from Transformers: The Movie (1986) that shows of the improved look of the 30 year old cartoon movie (sheesh that makes me feel old) as it has gone under a 4K transfer for the transition from DVD to Blu-ray. From what I can tell it does seem the colors and line work is the crispest I have seen, maybe to how it looked when say it in theaters so long ago (yep actually did see it in theaters first week was out). When viewing just make sure the hit the gear icon and verify the display quality is at least 720p or higher. The Transformers: The Movie 30th Anniversary Edition will be released on September 13 and now available for pre-order: Standard | Limited Edition

Tuesday, September 06, 2016

Transformers: The Last Knight continues to film on the streets of London. Today two new vehicles were spotted at the location and considering they are very expensive cars, chances are they are alt modes for two Autobots. From Alex Liu's Instagram we have a vehicle that TFW2005 identified as a Lamborghini Centenario LP770-4. The color scheme and shape makes it a perfect match for Hot Rod.

The second vehicle is from TransformersFilm Instagram. ID'ed as an Aston Martin DB11, theory is this is the alt mode of Cogman. The character name is from JoBlo's movie rumor from several months ago that has so far proven to be very accurate based on based on revealed Transformers characters and set pics since then.

Here is the cheat sheet for Transformers 5 that attempts to summarize details about the movie. Consider this a SPOILER WARNING as will post info as it comes up. Verified means the information either came from someone associated with the film (an actor, director, producer, etc.) or through mainstream press (CNN, THR, etc.) so unlikely to be false (but no guarantees). Feel free to comment on any inaccuracies or new info that isn't reflected in the sheet. The below is ultimately speculation and rumor until officially confirmed through those with the production of the film.

The sixth (out of eight) episode of Transformers: Combiner Wars is now available. In the latest the Combiners begin their battle as Starscream makes his move. To watch it in the US, click here. To watch elsewhere see below.

Transformers: The Last Knight continues to film. Below is a tweeted video of a brief sequence involving Bumblebee racing down a street at Lincoln's Inn Fields Holborn in London. In addition Coming Soon has posted a few pics of the lovely Laura Haddock prepping to film a scene involving the vehicle in what appears to be the same location. Sadly not much to post about TF5 this go around as Bay has taken a page from JJ Abrams and really locked his sets down by mostly filming in studios or on private property. Thanks to Feris O. for the heads-up.

Monday, September 05, 2016

As filming continues in London, Transformers: The Last Knight has added two more to the cast as well as possible story hints. To start, the pic from Laura Haddock's Instagram shows a TF5 movie prop a gruesome medieval death, not really understanding what that is on the skull. Likely just a background plot but maybe more.

Speaking of medieval, Acting Auditions has posted a search for extras for Transformers 5:

“Transformers: The Last Knight” will be filming a major medieval battle scene between Saxon Invaders and King Arthur’s Knights. Shooting will be taking place in London, England between October 3rd and October 14, 2016. The casting directors are seeking the following:

Friday, September 02, 2016

On his Instagram account, Michael Bay has posted some Transformers: The Last Knight behind the scenes footage of an action sequence while it was being record on his new RED camera that was named Bayhem in honor of the director. Apparently it is now the "lightest, most advanced hand held motion picture camera in the world." All for tech but the idea of anything that encourages even more shaky cam in movies does not exactly bring me good cheer.